Manchester United Fans Should Ignore the Anti-Moyes Bandwagon

It was never going to be an easy job replacing the man who carved out what was quite potentially the greatest legacy in the history of world football.

Sir Alex Ferguson spent a mind-blowing 26 years at the top of the game, taking a lackluster United side and transforming it into one of the most clinical teams ever seen.

His retirement was always going to come as a massive blow to followers of the Red Devils; and unfortunately for United fans that day came towards the end of last season, as Fergie announced that he would be stepping down at the conclusion of the 2012-13 EPL campaign.

Unlike with most high profile retirements (or more often than not sackings), there wasn't a whole lot of speculation after the news was broken of who would be taking on the mantle of responsibility at the club.

The media instantly ran stories stating that they expected David Moyes to be announced as his successor within mere days of the news breaking.

We would later find out that the then Everton manager had already been approached in person by Sir Alex himself, choosing him as his heir to the United empire.

Everything seemed to be falling into place, with Sir Alex still playing a major role in the club as a United board member, and a solid, reliable and, most importantly for United fans, handpicked successor to the throne now at the helm.

However, things haven't been all sunshine and lollipops so far during Moyes' short tenure at the club.

A poor preseason left many fans already starting to have doubts over their new commander in chief, and—while solid victories against Wigan and Swansea were chalked up in Moyes' first two competitive fixtures—a later draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford and, much more damningly, a defeat away at Liverpool, suddenly left United five points from the summit of the table after just three matchdays.

If that wasn't bad enough, United's failure in this summer's transfer market only piled onto the doubt surrounding the new Scotsman in Manchester, with his only major signing, MarouaneFellaini, costing the club a whopping £27.5 million.

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While Moyes did make the very wise decision of finally building on the United central midfield, many fans saw this as a step in the wrong direction—signing an Everton player with no Champions League experience, for £1 million more than they could have netted him for on the first day of the window.

All in all David Moyes has already earned himself a few doubters. This was always going to happen, but being at such an early stage in his time at the club, should United fans be concerned?

In this writer's opinion, the answer is definitely no. While United have only picked up four points from their opening three fixtures, one has to remind any out there who aren't backing Moyes that two of those games have been against a Chelsea side lead by Jose Mourinho and what appears to be the strongest Liverpool side since the departure of Fernando Torres in 2010.

United's league performances haven't dipped, they've just been given one of the hardest starts to a Premier League campaign they have ever had at the exact wrong time—when a new boss has just rocked up for the first time in two and a half decades.

This is unfortunately likely to continue, with a trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City approaching in just under three weeks time.

Whether during the Fergie-era or under Moyes, these games would always be matches where United were more likely to drop points than pick up all three.

Should Moyes be expected to suddenly come into a brand new team and achieve more than Sir Alex would have done in the same set of matches? Perhaps doubters should raise their expectations just a little bit.

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United managers past and present

As for the poor transfer showing, again one has to remember that United are notoriously quiet during the summer—at least when it comes to big-money signings.

I think United fans were spoilt last season with two high-profile players (ShinjiKagawa and Robin van Persie) arriving at the club during the same window.

If supporters think back there hasn't been many summers where this was the case. Usually United would make one big-name signing and then also snag a whole host of youth players (many of whom would go on to mediocrity).

This year nothing has changed—except for the fact that Moyes has actually done something Sir Alex has failed to do for the last few years of his reign: bring in a solid central midfield player.

United fans should be praising the heavens that at last their call has been answered. Okay, so Fellaini isn't Cesc Fabregas, but he's a darn sight better than Anderson!

It's still just four games into David Moyes' time at the club, and if Fergie had been judged as harshly as Moyes has been so far during his first few months in charge, it's more than likely he would have gotten the sack within a year.

How long should David Moyes be given to prove himself?

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How long should David Moyes be given to prove himself?

A year

22.4%

Two years

39.4%

Three years

30.1%

Less than a year

8.0%

Total votes: 1,052

Have patience all you doubters, this negativity is damaging to United and exactly what the club doesn't need right now in this transitional period.

And for all those who still are behind Moyes (which thankfully seems to be the higher percentage of United supporters), make sure you win the haters round.

There is always going to be anti-Moyes press from the papers and, more noticeably, supporters of other English sides. That's true of any manager other than Fergie. United have always been lucky that they haven't for a long while had a manager who could be criticized (at least in terms of ability and results).

Many fans, including myself, may never have seen a time like this, when the Red Devils gaffer suddenly isn't so untouchable.

Those fans need to persevere and stick by their new leader through thick and thin. There will be good days and there will be bad days on the road ahead, but if United want to maintain their dominance over English football, then the fans have to stick by their team and their manager.